Sludge resisting hydrocarbon oils and method of making the same



V tate settles. If heating is'continue' Patented 0a. is, 1932 UNE JOHN G. POPE, OF YONKEBS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO STANDARD 0H1 DEVELOPMNT 7 COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE S LUDGE RESISTING HYDROOABIBON OILS AND mmon 0 1 Ho Drawing.

The present invention relates to an improvement in hydrocarbon materials and more specifically comprises a method of manufacture which will be fully understood from the following description.

In a previous application, Serial No. 138,114 by W. L. McCabe and Brian Mead, now Patent No. 1,857,761, issued May 10, 1932, entitled Non-sludging oil and method of making the same, improvement in oils, greases, and the like by-addition of small quantities of one of a certain class of sludge resistant compounds is fully disclosed. It was disclosed that addition of a small quantity of a lead-organic compound, for exam le tetraethyl-lead, greatly decreased the eterioration of oils, greases, and the like, as indicated by darkening in color and the formation of sludge. Although tetraethyl lead is typical of this class of substances, others are enumerated in the above noted application.

The present invention comprises a treatment for oils or greases to which lead-organic agents have been added whereby still further improvement is made in respect to deterioration, especially to oxidation or to deterioration from other causes. I have found that hydrocarbon oils and greases to which tetraethyl lead or similar compounds have been added, on being held. at temperatures of 100 to 150 C. frequently become somewhat turbid or cloudy and sometimes a slight pirecipifor a prolonged period from 10 to 30 hours or longer and the oil is then -filtered to remove the turbidity, great improvement in respect to furthercsludge formation is noted.

As an example of my invention, the following may be given although it is to be considered as illustrative of my process and in no sense limitative. An oil of the following characteristics is derived from a naphthenic base crude:

'Gravity A. P. I 24l5- Flash open cup 275 F. Viscosity Saybolt sec. at 100 F.

To a litre of the oil, .005 molsof tetraethyl lead is added and thoroughly mixed therewith. Samples each 20 c. 'c. were heated and turbi Application filed HarchBS, 1888. Serial No. 284,277.

maintained at 150 C. for 30 hours or more in an oil bath capable of being regulated to within 1 0. Samples are protected from impurities but free access to an is permitted. A slight darkening of the oil is observed and 'ty. which settles as a. gray or buff colored precipitate. The oil is filtered to remove the recipitate and clariit is found that little or no sin ge is formed if heating is continued as before. Treated oils are much more stable in respect to sludge formation than untreated oils and the former darken only slightly in comparison with the latter.

Other lead-organic compounds, such as tetraphenyl lead, lead triet yl bromide, and lead triethyl acetate may be used in quantity from 0.01 to 1.0% although approximately 0.07% is preferable. My improved process may be applied to hydrocarbon oils of different characteristics, such as are required for transformer oils, switch oils, turbine oils, and the like. In fact my rocess is advantageous wherever a high gra e sludge-resistant oil .is required. It is preferred to use an oil heavier than kerosene, but the method is applicable to any oil heavier than butane. Also, not only oils, but greases such as petrolatum petroleum jelly, and the like may be treated according to my proc'esg with improvement in respect to sludge-resistant properties.

I am unable to state whether the lead-orgenie compound added to the oil survives the eat treatment or whether it isconverted to another substance, but I am content to state the steps of the improved process. The turbid matter when filtered from the oil is found to contain lead, and lead is also present in the oil after filtration.

y invention is not to be limited by any theory of the chemicalor physical explanation of my process nor b any example given by way of illustration ut only by the attached claims ,in which I wish to claim all novelty inherent in my process.

I claim: 1. An improved process for manufacturing sludge-resistant hydrocarbon products,

the oil and.

carbon-heavier than butane, subjecting the mixture to prolonged heating, and removing the precipitate formed during heating.

2. A process according to claim 1 in which the heat treatment period is from 10 to 30 hours.

' 3. A process according to claim 1 in whlch temperature of the hydrocarbon during. heating is between approximate limits of 100 and 150 F. v

4'. A process according to claim 1 in which .01 to 1.0% of a lead-organic compound is added to the hydrocarbon.

5. A process according to claim 1 in which tetraethyl lead is added to a hydrocarbon oil heavier than kerosene.

6. A process for manufacturing sludgeresistant taining the oil at temperature of 100150 C. for at least 10 hours and filtering the oil.- Process according to claim 6 in which a distillate. from a naphthenic base crude is subjecting the mixture to lea fact used.

8. A sludge-resistant material comprising a. h drocarbon heavier than butane and a that a lead-organic compound has been added thereto and that the mixture has been heated for a prolonged period and finally filtered.

9. A claim 9, characterized by the fact that a small quantity of tetraethyl lead has been added thereto and that the mixture has been heated for at least 10 hours at to C. 10. A sludge 'esistant oil comp-rising an 011 heavier t an kerosene, derived from a napthemc base crude, and tetraethyl lead, characterized by the fact that .01 to 1.0% of tetraethyl lead has been added thereto, the mlxture heated and finally filtered.

The resistant o of the naphthenic series, which comprrses addin a lead organic compound toa dlstlllate o a naphthenic base crude, prolonged heating, preclpitate' formed during JOHN C. POPE.

and removing the heating.

oil comprising adding .01 to 1.0% 'tetraethyl lead to a hydrocarbon oil, main -organic compound, characterized by the sludge-resistant oil, according to A 1 process of manufacturing sludge- 

